Product Description

Offers everything Home Premium and Professional offers plus added security features and the flexibility to work in multiple languagesSoftware Sub Type: ClientHelp prevent theft or loss of data Use BitLocker and BitLocker To Go to better protect your valuable files even on removable drives such as USB devicesAutomatically back up your files: Protect your data from user error hardware failure and other problemsFind virtually anything on your PC from documents to photos to e-mailSave time and money resolving IT issuesGet remote services with DirectAccess Access corporate resources seamlessly when you're on the Inter without having to initiate a VPN connectionConnect multiple PCs with or without a serverWork in the language of your choice Switch between any of 35 languages as easily as logging off and back on againLicense type: Upgrade packagePlatform Support: PCRequires 1GHz or faster 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64) processorRequires 16GB (32-bit) or 20GB (64-bit) hard driveRequires 1GB RAM (32-bit) or 2GB RAM (64-bit)Requires DirectX 9 graphics processor with WDDM 1.0 or later driver

Product Details

Product Dimensions:
7.6 x 5.4 x 1.2 inches

Shipping Weight: 4 ounces

Domestic Shipping: Item can be shipped within U.S.

International Shipping: This item is not eligible for international shipping. Learn More

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

I'll admit, I've been running Windows 7 for six months now: the preproduction version of it and have just upgraded to the gold code. So I have quite a bit of experience with the operating system. Let's get to the nitty gritty:

Should you upgrade from Windows Vista? YES! I mean it - upgrade today.Windows 7 is quite simply faster, more stable, boots faster, goes to sleep faster, comes back from sleep faster, manages your files better and on top of that it's beautiful to look at and easy to use. Even the preproduction version of Windows 7 was better than my Vista with SP2.

Should you upgrade from Windows XP? Maybe, but for different reasons.XP is a good operating system and if you don't need to add new hardware or software, XP is good. However, XP is old as an operating system. Also chances are that if you're running XP, you might not meet the minimum requirements for Windows 7 - check the compatibility site at Microsoft to see if your system will support Windows 7. That said, Windows 7 is light years ahead of Windows XP in terms of functionality, ease of use, etc - to me it's worth buying a new system.

64 bit or 32 bit?If you don't know what I'm talking about, that's ok skip this section. If you have a core2 duo or core 2 quad or a multi cpu machine, go with the 64 bit OS, it handles memory and the CPUs much better. If you have a single core CPU, one CPU or run special programs that require 32bit, then stick with 32 bit for now.Read more ›

If you're looking at Ultimate, chances are it's for one of these three reasons:

1) You have Vista Ultimate and don't want to lose all your programs/settings (more on this in a moment)2) You want BitLocker hardware-level encryption. You'll need to do some tinkering with a USB key or have hardware that supports it (see comments to this review for details)3) You regularly work in multiple languages and need to easily switch from one to the other

Unlike Vista Ultimate, Windows 7 Ultimate doesn't offer DreamScenes or any other eye candy different from its cousins Home and Pro. In fact, if you were a fan of the Windows Vista DreamScenes, you should know that you will be losing them when you step up to Windows 7.

Some very important things you need to know about upgrading:

1) There are two types of upgrade: "in-place" (where a Vista machine upgrades to 7 and you get to keep all your programs) and "clean" (where you lose all your old programs and settings).2) Anyone going from XP to 7 will have to go "clean".3) Anyone going from a different Vista to 7 (for example, Vista Home up to 7 Pro, or Vista Ultimate down to 7 Home) will also have to go "clean".4) Anyone going from any Home or Business Vista to 7 Ultimate can do an in-place upgrade.5) Enterprise Vista can only upgrade to Enterprise 7.6) You cannot do an "in-place" upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit.

If you have to do 2) or 3), all is not lost--I'll explain in a moment.

Before you even buy a 7 upgrade for your machine, stop by Microsoft's website for two things:

a) download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. Run it with every device connected to the machine that you'll ever want to use in 7.Read more ›

CONS:- User Account Control still annoying- Upgrade can be challenging- Expensive

CLEAN UPGRADE UPDATE 10/29/09 **It seems that a lot of upgraders have been complaining about the upgrade process, especially from XP. Most of us expected to be able to format our hard disks and be prompted for either the XP disc or product key. Alas, this is not the case. The upgrade is much more complicated than it should be and some workarounds have been discovered

Method A (simplest)If you already have an older version of Windows on the hard drive, finish the Custom Install, without entering the product key. After installation, go to your System Properties and click the link to activate Windows. Enter your product key and it should activate. This has worked for me twice.

Method B (hardest)If Method A doesn't work, try the registry hack.1. Finish the custom install without entering the product key then click Start and type regedit.exe into the "Search programs and files" box.2. In the registry, navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/Windows/CurrentVersion/Setup/OOBE/. In the pane on the right, you'll see an entry for MediaBootInstall.Read more ›